Des Moines Metro Opera, Des Moines Performing Arts and the Des Moines Symphony were all named recipients of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Art Works grants. The grants are designed to support “artistically excellent projects that celebrate creativity and cultural heritage, invite mutual respect for differing beliefs and values, and enrich humanity.” Des Moines Metro Opera’s $15,000 grant will benefit the OPERA Iowa initiative, a 12-week music education tour bringing opera and live performance into schools and communities across the region. Des Moines Performing Arts’ $10,000 grant will benefit the 2020 Dance Series Engagements Dance companies, Ballet Biarritz and Ronald K. Brown/Evidence. Additionally, the Ronald K. Brown/Evidence Company will perform a student matinee performance and lead an open master class for community members with no previous dance experience. The Des Moines Symphony’s $10,000 grant will benefit the annual school-day Youth Concerts, which is a two-day series in March at the Civic Center hosting more than 5,000 Central Iowa fourth and fifth graders, introducing them to the instruments of the orchestra and iconic works of the symphonic repertoire.